Tile set tool



March 10, 1953 I. PIZZANI TILE SET TOOL Filed July 2'7, 1950 Valentine Pizzam' INVENTOR.

BY WWW 8% Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The present invention relatesto improvements in tile settingequipment, and more particularly to =atoolfor holding tiles preparatory to setting the same.

An object of the present invention is to provide :a means whereby a plurality of tiles may be positioned on a=tooland aligned, spaces being provided between the tiles, whereby the plurality l of tiles may be provided with cementpreparatory to positioning the tile on a wall or the like.

Another object of the present invention resides in the means whereby the plurality of tiles are adjustab1y held, thereby permitting the edges of the individual tiles to be aligned for accurate setting.

Still another object of the'present invention is to provide a novel handle arrangement whereby the tile setting tool may besupported while positioning the tiles on the face of the tool preparatory to adjustably holding the same.

This invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and ar "rangementsof parts which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes an embodiment of the present invention which is given by way of illustration or example only.

Figurefi is a view of a portion of the face of the tile setting tool, parts being broken away;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the holding member of thepresent invention;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view showing the tile setting tool-supported on its handle; and

Figure 8 is a'detail view of a portion of the tile setting plate withpart in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral 1 0 designates generally the tile setting plate of the present invention, the numeral I2 designates generally the handle structure associated with the tile setting plate ii), the numeral 1-4 designates generally the holding means for 138165531315 clamping the tiles in their predetermined relation, and the numeral I6 designatesgenerally the spacing means which is adjustablypositioned on the base of the tile setting plate ID.

The tile settingplate l 0 may be formedof wood, other material being used if desired, and the peripheral edge of the tile setting plate I 0 is recessed on its back side at 18 and on its outside edge at 20. Brass angle plates 22, 24, 2 6 and 23 are inserted in the recesses. l8 and 20 and secured therein by means ofscrews 3D. The plate It is provided with an elongated, substantially rectangular opening 32 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The face 34, upon whichthe tiles are positioned, is formed with a plurality of spaced and transversely extending recesses 36. The recesses 35 are provided with recessed eX- tensions 38 which are of non-circular form for receiving'the nuts 40 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

On the backside 42 of the tile setting plate It, the handle 12 is positioned at. The handle I2 is of substantially bar form and is provided with an angulated cut 46 at its outer end which is adapted to engage a supporting surface.

The spacing'means it includes a pair of retaining guide pins 48 which are positioned in each of the pairs of recessed extensions 38. The

inner endsof the pins 48 are threaded in order that the pinsmay be threadably engaged in the nuts 40. The outer ends of the pins 48 are provided with enlarged disk heads 56, providing a retaining means. The nuts 40 and guide retaining pins are held within the recessees oi the face of the tile setting plate ill by means of the retaining plates 52 which are held within the elongated recesses 36 by means of screws 54.

A plurality of elongated spacer elements 56, at it in Figure .5, are formed with elongated slots 58 .for receiving the guiding retaining pins 48 and whereby the enlarged heads are adapted to retain the spacers 56 within the recesses '36. The spacer elements 56 are provided with downwardly projecting angulated portions 60 which are adapted to be positioned between the tiles 62 for spacing the same.

The holding means 14 includes a bracket 64 which is secured .to the back side 42 of the tile setting plate lll by mean of screws 66. A central portion of the bracket 64 is enlarged at 68 and is provided with aninternally threaded bore '50. An angulated holding member "is positioned in the elongated recess 74 in the back side of the plate 1.0 for reciprocable movement therein. The member I2 is provided with two angulated portions, the first angulated portion 16 extending through the opening 32 for engagement with the end 18 of one of the tiles 62. The other end of the member 12, the second angulated portion 8%], is in upstanding vertical relation to the back side 42 of the plate III. A threaded lug 82 is threadably positioned within the bore iii of the bracket 64 and has a knurled handle portion 84 at one end. The other end of the lug 82 is provided with an enlarged head 86 which is secured thereon by means of the pin 83 and which engages the second angulated portion 85 of the member '72.

As seen best in Figure 6, the holding member 82 is provided on its first angulated portion it with an elongated tile engaging portion 99 which is adapted to engage the face 18 of the end tile 62.

From the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, it is believed that one skilled in the art will readily understand the manner in which the tile setting tool of the present invention is employed. Although the form shown provides means for setting five tiles in position, it should be noted that the tile setting tool could be formed to accommodate any number of tiles which are of any size and shape.

A plurality of tiles B2 are positioned on the face 34 of the plate Hl when the tile setting tool is in the position shown in Figure '7. Each of the spacing means has the portion 60 positioned between the ends of the tiles 52. The entire tool is lifted by means of the handle i2 and the knurled handle 84 is rotated until the first angulated portion it and the tile engaging portion dii engage the end tile 52. By moving the member l2 a little farther, all of the tiles engage the spacing means positioned therebetween and move the same until all of the tiles are held together with a predetermined degree of firmness. The whole tool is then held on its side so that the side edges of the tiles 62 may be tapped against a fiat surface such as a fiat board for aligning the tiles. Then the knurled handle is rotated until the tiles are firmly clamped in place and the conventional tile cementitious substance is applied to the bases of the tiles. The tile setting tool is then ready to be employed for positioning the tiles on a wall or the like.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A tile setting tool comprising an elongated holding plate, a plurality of tile spacing means individually adjustably positioned on the face of said plate for spacing a plurality of tiles in predetermined relation to each other, and holding means for releasably clamping the tiles in the predetermined relation, said holding means including an angulated holding member, an opening in said plate through which an angulated portion of said member projects, said angulated member being reciprooably guided in a groove on the back side of said plate, and means for adjustably moving said member whereby said angulated portion engages one of the tiles and urges it toward the other tiles, effecting adjustment of said spacing means and clamping of the tiles.

2. A tile setting tool comprising an elongated holding plate, a plurality of tile spacing means individually adjustably positioned on the face of said plate for spacing a plurality of tiles in predetermined relation to each other and holding means for releasably clamping the tiles in the predetermined relation, said holding means including an angulated holding member, an opening in said plate through which an angulated portion of said member projects, said angulated member being reciprocably guided in a groove on the back side of said plate, means for adjustably moving said member whereby said angulated portion engages one of the tiles and urges it toward the other tiles, effecting adjustment of said spacing means and clamping of the tiles, said last-named means including an internally threaded and apertured bracket on said back side, a threaded lug adjustably receivable in said apertured bracket, and an end portion of said lug engageable with a second angulated portion of said member for movement thereof.

3. A tile setting tool comprising an elongated holding plate, a plurality of tile spacing means individually adjustably positioned on the face of said plate for spacing a plurality of tiles in predetermined relation to each other, and holding means for releasably clamping the tiles in the predetermined relation, said spacing means including retaining guide pins secured in recesses in said face, angulated spacing elements having guide slots therein for receiving said retaining guide pins, said holding means including an angulated holding member, an opening in said plate through which an angulated portion of said member projects, said angulated member being reciprocably guided in a groove on the back side of said plate, and means for adjustably moving said member whereby said angulated portion engages one of the tiles and urges it toward the other tiles, efiecting adjustment of said spacing means and clamping of the tiles.

4. A tile setting tool comprising an elongated holding plate, a plurality of tile spacing means adjustably positioned on the face of said plate, and holding means for releasably clamping the tiles in predetermined relation, said spacing means including retaining guide pins secured in recesses in said face, angulated spacing elements having guide slots therein for receiving said retaining guide pins, said holding means including an angulated holding member, an opening in said plate through which an angulated portion of said member projects, said angulated member being reciprocably guided in a groove on the back side of said plate, and means for adjustably moving said member whereby said angulated portion engages one of the tiles and urges it toward the other tiles for holding the same, said last-named means including an internally threaded and apertured bracket on said back side, a threaded lug adjustably receivable in said apertured bracket, and an end portion of said lug engageable with a second angulated portion of said member for movement thereof.

5. A tile setting tool comprising an elongated holding plate, said plate having a plurality of spaced, transversely extending grooves in one face thereof, angular spacing bars being disposed in said grooves and having guideslots therein, retaining pins secured to said face within said grooves, said pins extending through said guide slots and securing said spacing bars for limited reciprocal movement with the grooves, said spacing bars being individually adjustable within said grooves for spacing a plurality of tiles in prede- 5 termined relation to each other, and holding means on said plate for clamping the tiles in their predetermined relation.

VALENTINE PIZZANI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Walker Mar. 24, 1914 Baldwin Jan. 2, 1923 Guerini June 17, 1930 Johanson Apr. 11, 1939 Kruchten 2 Aug. 21, 1945 Malthouse Oct. 7, 1947 Porterfield Nov. 4, 1947 

